Practical radar waveform optimization techniques for colored noise mitigation

Abstract

This paper presents practical radar waveform design algorithms for colored noise mitigation. One algorithm uses an iterative least squares approach to form a hybrid waveform that simultaneously maximizes SINR and minimizes peak side-lobe levels under the constraint of constant signal amplitude modulus. A second algorithm employs a simple modification to the traditional Costas coded signal that increases SINR while maintaining a constant modulus and its ideal ambiguity function. Another algorithm makes use of four peak-sidelobe preserving properties inherent to biphase codes to choose the biphase modulated signal having the smallest Euclidean distance from the SINR-optimal signal. These algorithms are tested in a variety of interference scenarios, including wide band and narrow band interference sources as well as realistic terrain scattered interference settings. Findings from these tests are presented in terms of SINR gain over an ordinary linear frequency modulated pulse and autocorrelation sidelobe suppression.